8th NOV 2022 - LAST TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE TILL
2025
(Between 8 Nov 2022 and Sept 2025 – Five Lunar
Eclipses will occur – People in India have to wait till 7 Sept 2025 to see a Total
Lunar Eclipse - Lunar Eclipse occurring on 28 Oct 2023 visible in India is
Partial)
On 8th November 2022 a Total
Lunar Eclipse will occur. This is the last Eclipse of year, among four
eclipses for year 2022. Though this eclipse is a Total Lunar Eclipse, totality is visible only in East or North
Eastern state of India based on Moon rise timings before 5.12 p.m. Whereas rest of India would see the eclipse partially
till 6.19 p.m.
The duration of eclipse and percentage of Moon’s disk covered for an
observer would depend on rising timings of moon at various locations in India. As
Eclipse begins before Moon Rise for people India, we will miss the beginning
phase of Eclipse. However people will witness the end of eclipse with Moon
slowly leaving the darker shadow of earth by 6.19 p.m.
Across the world visibility of
the eclipse is dependent on timings of Moon Rise or Moonset. In few countries people
will see eclipse at time when Moon is setting in their location. Example
North/South American countries. Which means people in these countries would see
only beginning of eclipse. Whereas at other places people will see
eclipse at time when Moon is rising. Example: For people in India & other
countries in Asia. Eclipse would begin before Moon rise and they will see the
end of eclipse. However, people only in
few places across the world would witness the totality of the moon either at Beginning
or End of Totality Phase (like east and north east parts of India). This eclipse
will be visible in the region covering South
America, North America, Australia, Asia, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific
Ocean.
The Last
Lunar Eclipse visible in India occurred on 19
November, 2021 which was Longest Partial Lunar Eclipse in 580 Years. As
recorded by NASA from New Orleans the duration of Partial Eclipse on 19 November 2021 was for 3hrs
28 Min 24 Sec. Whereas the Next Eclipse
visible from India which is Partial
Lunar Eclipse will occur on night of 28th
and 29th October in 2023.
Timings of Eclipse in
Indian standard Time on 8th Nov 2022: Eclipse
in various phases begins at 1.30p.m IST and ends at 7.28pm IST. However, the noticeable Umbral phase begins at 2.39 p.m. IST and Ends at 06.19 p.m. IST. In other words, though astronomically
speaking Eclipse begins at 1.30 p.m.
with moon entering lighter Shadow of Earth. People can noticeably witness darkening or leaving of Moon’s disk
by Earth Shadow between 2.39 p.m IST
to 6.19 p.m. IST on 8th
November, 2022. Whereas the Totality Phase when Moon’s disk is completely
immersed in Dark shadow of Earth starts at
3.46 p.m. and ends at 5.12 p.m.
Next Total Lunar Eclipse in
2025 – East, North East Best Place for 8 Nov 2022: Here
is the list of Lunar Eclipses after 8 Nov 2022. (1). 5 May 2023 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, (2). 28 Oct 2023 – Partial Lunar Eclipse (visible in India) (3). 25 March 2024 - Penumbral Lunar
Eclipse (4). 18 Sept 2024 – Partial
Lunar Eclipse (5). 14 March 2025 –
Total Lunar Eclipse (not visible in India) (6).
7th Sept 2025 – Total Lunar Eclipse (visible in India). Which means there are five Lunar Eclipse
occurring in next three years and the next Total Lunar Eclipse will only occur
in 2025. Hence people should not miss the Lunar Eclipse on 8 Nov 2022. Whereas on 8th
Nov 2022, people visiting or staying in Eastern or Northern Eastern parts of
India will get best opportunity to see entire disk of Moon immersed in dark
shadow of Earth.
Eclipse
for People In Telugu States – Partial – till 6.19 p.m. – Percentage – What to expect: Though visible umbral phase of Eclipse starts
at 2.39 p.m. before Moonrise. People in
Hyderabad can see the eclipse from 5.40 p.m. in Telangana. For Vijayawada
in A.P. it’s from 5.33p.m. Whereas people in Rajahmundry will be first to see
the eclipse from 5.25p.m. It’s important to note people in north and north
eastern parts of both states would be first to witness the eclipse compared to
Western or Southern parts. Duration and Percentage of Lunar Eclipse visible is be
based on rising time of Moon in their location. On 8 Nov 2022 as Totality phase is already over at 5.12 p.m.
before moon rises here. People would miss entire disk of Moon immersed in Earth
shadow. They would however see Moon a portion of Moon eclipse as Moon rises in
East. Importantly people here would witness Moon leaving earth’s dark shadow by
6.19 p.m.
FOR PLANETARY SOCIETY OF INDIA (PSI), Director,
N.Sri Raghunandan Kumar .
PSI celebrated 20th establishment
day ceremony on 17th Oct 2022.
EXPLAINATION
NOTES:
1. A
Lunar Eclipse: occurs when earth in course of its orbit
around sun, comes between moon and sun such a
way that moon his hidden in the shadow cast by earth.
This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are
aligned in a straight line. Hence lunar eclipse occurs
only when there is full moon.
2.
Penumbra and Umbra: Earth’s shadow has two parts Penumbra (outer lighter
part) and Umbra (darker
part). All Lunar Eclipse begin with moon first
entering penumbra at one end passing through umbral phase and
ending with
Leaving the penumbra on other end.
Generally
only the Umbra phase is commonly considered as actual eclipse by General public
to follow various rituals and traditions leaving Penumbra passage of moon.
Whereas scientifically speaking all Lunar Eclipse begin and end with moon
entering and leaving the penumbra (lighter outer shadow of earth).
3. Totality in East and North Eastern States – Rest of
India Partial: In India Agartala, Aizawl, Bhagalpur, Bhubaneswar, Cooch Behar, Cuttack,
Darjeeling, Dibrugarh, Gangtok, Guwahati, Gaya, Hazaribagh, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima,
Kolkata, Midnapore, Murshidabad, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Port Blair, Puri, Ranchi, Shillong, Sibsagar, Silchar, Siliguri,
Tamelong, Varanasi, Chittagong are the places where the people can witness the
Moon full eclipsed in Earth’s dark shadow towards end of the Totality phase ie. 5.12p.m. Whereas rest of the country people can witness the
eclipse in partial phase only with a portion of Moon Disk eclipsed.
4. First
& Last Places to see Eclipse on 8th Nov 2022 – Depends on Moon
rise time on 8th Nov : People in Eastern or North
Eastern most parts of India like Dibrugarh
will be the first to see the eclipse on 8th November starting 4.17p.m. In India. They will see the
Moon completely immersed in dark shadow of earth as the Totality phase already
started at 3.46p.m. Whereas people in Itanagar & Kohima will see the
eclipse starting from 4.24p.m. People in Northern
most parts of India like ladakh will see eclipse from 5.17p.m.
People in Central part of India like in Bhopal would start seeing the
eclipse from 5.36p.m. Whereas people
in Southern most part of India i.e.
Kanyakumari will witness the eclipse from 5.57p.m.
In Kavaratti (Lakshadweep) eclipse is
visible from 6.11 p.m. People in Western
most parts of India like in Dwaraka will be last to witness the eclipse
from 6.12 p.m. for just 7mins before
end of Umbral Phase at 6.19p.m. Here people will see a very small part of Moon
Disk eclipsed. This means duration of
the eclipse and percentage of Moon disk eclipsed would differ as we move from
East or North parts towards Western and Southern part of India depending on
rising time of moon for a location.
5. Pregnant Woman
– Superstitious Restrictions – Food Spoilage – Govt & WHO: During
eclipse various restrictions in the form of rituals based on misunderstanding
of Eclipse are imposed on Pregnant ladies in India. Cleft lip and cleft palate which is a medical condition is wrongly
associated with Eclipse as after effect in unborn kids. If Eclipses were harmful to pregnant women,
unborn kids the World Health Organization (WHO)
would have issued medical advisory to nations. At least, Ministry of Health
& Family Welfare in India would have warned people since last 70
years. Further regarding food, if it was to be spoiled by eclipse, Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),
CSIR organisations would have warned people.
Whereas Science
organizations, Government bodies do issue instructions regarding solar eclipse as
Sun shouldn’t be viewed directly or through binoculars or x-ray films. But only
through solar filters or Grade 14 Welder Glass and indirect methods. However
astrologers are misinterpreting these instructions and spreading various myths,
superstitions creating fear in the people against eclipses. Further a Lunar Eclipse can be seen
directly with bare eyes.
Now that there is widespread superstition on the issue
of Food, Pregnant Women, travel during eclipses. Govt of India should issue
special instructions and also prevent superstitious ideas being spread using
social media. It should instruct state governments to take special steps to
prevent Naraballi (Human Sacrifice) incidents prevalent during eclipses.
6. Social Media misinformation: Its fact that we see phases of Moon in span of 30 days
(New moon to full moon and back to New Moon). I.e. Full Moon to New Moon or new
moon to full moon occur in span of 15 days. It’s also a fact that a Solar or
Lunar Eclipse occur on New Moon day or Full Moon day. In other words whenever
Sun Moon Earth are aligned in a line. If on that day if its New Moon day a
Solar Eclipse will occur. During such alignment if its Full Moon day a Lunar
Eclipse will occur.
Importantly often Solar Eclipse is followed Lunar
Eclipse or sometimes Lunar Eclipse precedes the Solar Eclipse in a Year. The occurrence of two eclipses in a month is not uncommon. However social media few
videos are terming the Solar Eclipse on 25 Oct followed by Lunar Eclipse on 8
Nov as rare leading to serious repercussions. People should be alert against such false claims misusing scientific
data.
